Table of contents
MuPDF
MuPDF is a lightweight PDF and XPS viewer.
As MuPDF is an open source project, you can find more
open source alternatives and stats
on LibHunt.
Lightweight
MuPDF is a lightweight PDF viewer and toolkit, which makes it ideal for embedding in applications or using on devices with limited resources.
Fast Performance
MuPDF is known for its fast rendering speeds, which ensures quick viewing and manipulation of PDF files.
High-Quality Rendering
MuPDF provides high-quality rendering of PDF documents, ensuring that text and images are displayed clearly and accurately.
Support for Multiple Formats
In addition to PDF, MuPDF supports other formats such as XPS, OpenXPS, CBZ, EPUB, and FictionBook 2, making it versatile for various document types.
Open Source
MuPDF is an open-source project, which means it's customizable and freely available for developers to modify and improve upon.
Comprehensive API
MuPDF offers a comprehensive API that provides functionalities for rendering, editing, and extracting information from PDF documents.
Yes, MuPDF is generally regarded as a good option for those seeking a no-nonsense PDF viewing experience. Its performance and versatility make it a solid choice for both casual and professional users.
We have collected here some useful links to help you find out if MuPDF is good.
Check the traffic stats of MuPDF on SimilarWeb. The key metrics to look for are: monthly visits, average visit duration, pages per visit, and traffic by country. Moreoever, check the traffic sources. For example "Direct" traffic is a good sign.
Check the "Domain Rating" of MuPDF on Ahrefs. The domain rating is a measure of the strength of a website's backlink profile on a scale from 0 to 100. It shows the strength of MuPDF's backlink profile compared to the other websites. In most cases a domain rating of 60+ is considered good and 70+ is considered very good.
Check the "Domain Authority" of MuPDF on MOZ. A website's domain authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). It is based on a 100-point logarithmic scale, with higher scores corresponding to a greater likelihood of ranking. This is another useful metric to check if a website is good.
The latest comments about MuPDF on Reddit. This can help you find out how popualr the product is and what people think about it.
Sioyek uses the MuPDF engine, which supports EPUB: https://mupdf.com/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
MuPDF mini (version 1.23.3a): Minimalist viewer for PDF, XPS, CBZ, unprotected EPUB, and FB2 documents. Source: over 2 years ago
Mupdf is the mupdf of epub; it supports epub and other formats beyond pdf¹. When I've had really large files I've used mupdf to read them a few times, as it seems to be far better at handling them than other tools. ¹ https://mupdf.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
Doesn't exactly fit your requirements, but might as well mention it here: muPDF - the most lightweight PDF viewer that I've ever seen. You don't even have to install it. Mobile version exists by the way. Source: about 3 years ago
MuPDF viewer (version 1.21.0a): Lightweight document viewer. Source: about 3 years ago
I don't see anything about that on ArchWiki or MuPDF's website. Could you provide details on how it is obsolete and what critical vulnerabilities it has? Source: over 3 years ago
I think you might mean PyMuPDF (https://github.com/pymupdf/PyMuPDF), a Python library built on top of the MuPDF C library (https://mupdf.com/). PyMuPDF and MuPDF are both available under dual open source AGPL and commercial licenses. They have been around for many years and are under continual development. [Disclaimer, I work for Artifex, who wrote MuPDF and recently acquired PyMuPDF.]. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
I used to work on PDF creation and management software, and I had become familiar with MuPDF https://mupdf.com/. It's lightweight, written entirely in C last I checked, crazy fast, compatible with many different platforms, and open source. API is a bit tricky to learn but once you got your head around it, it's pretty neat. The PDF specification is insanely complex so I'd personally build an app like you want on... Source: over 3 years ago
Anyway, the fastest I've tried for Linux is mupdf. The mupdf libraries tend to be faster than the poppler-based ones which most linux PDF viewers use. Source: over 3 years ago
For a lightweight epub viewer, I'd probably go with mupdf or zathura. (Till recently I'd have said llpp which is based on the same codebase, but I think the developer has removed the sources for reasons having to do with the war in Ukraine.) However, I think these are based on the same library as Sumatra for Windows, so you may have the same problem. Source: over 3 years ago
Even after flushing caches, the cross-platform MuPDF turned out to be much faster: two to three seconds. If you're experiencing load times of more than five seconds with MuPDF on a Windows machine with gigabytes of free memory, then I'd remove "anti-virus" software and test again. Source: over 3 years ago
Thanks for the recommendation!! Looks like the latest fdroid version is based on Mupdf. Source: over 3 years ago
MuPDF viewer (version 1.20.0): Lightweight document viewer. Source: almost 4 years ago
You can also use any of the document viewers that use the mupdf library, including also mupdf itself, or Sioyek. Source: almost 4 years ago
Try mupdf [1], it allows the selection of any rectangular shape. Use the "right" mouse button to select an area, the text contents of which are copied to the primary selection from where they can be pasted using the "middle" mouse button. apt install mupdf on Debian, your distribution may vary. [1] https://mupdf.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 4 years ago
Another possibility is MuPDF. There are bindings for many platforms and languages. Source: over 4 years ago
MuPDF viewer (version 1.19.0): Lightweight document viewer. Source: over 4 years ago
As mentioned, active storage uses third-party software to enable file processing. You can download and install libvipsor ImageMagick v8.6+ for image analysis and transformations, ffmpeg v3.4+ for video/audio analysis and video previews, and poppleror muPDFfor PDF previews separately, as Rails will not install this software. - Source: dev.to / over 4 years ago
So why do you choose https://mupdf.com/ as the pdf engine? How does it compare to google's pdfium https://opensource.google/projects/pdfium. - Source: Hacker News / almost 5 years ago
I'm not sure the OS has something to do with this. Maybe look after some alternative PDF readers on Windows first: Sumatra https://www.sumatrapdfreader.org/free-pdf-reader, or MuPDF https://mupdf.com/ for example (MuPDF is really minimalistic, you have to learn some of its keyboard shortcuts because it has no GUI, but it is incredibly fast and efficient). Source: almost 5 years ago
PDF Viewer: zathura using the mupdf backend, or better yet to view PostScript or DjVu files, mupdf;. Source: about 5 years ago
MuPDF, a name commonly invoked in discussions concerning PDF tools and document viewers, holds a nuanced position in the landscape of PDF software. Regarded for its lightweight nature and speed, MuPDF remains a renowned choice for users who prioritize efficiency and performance. While the discontinuation of the MuPDF App Kit has introduced challenges for mobile applications dependent on its libraries, MuPDF itself continues to maintain a strong following among users who appreciate its streamlined functionality and open-source foundation.
Strengths:
MuPDF's core strengths lie in its speed and minimalistic design. Users consistently praise its ability to handle large PDF files adeptly, outperforming many competitors in terms of loading times. The absence of a graphical user interface contributes to its minimal system resource consumption, making it a suitable choice for low-end devices or systems where performance efficiency is paramount. MuPDF is frequently compared favorably against other Linux-based PDF readers, highlighting its supremacy regarding speed and simplicity.
The software's versatility is another notable asset, supporting various document formats beyond PDFs, including EPUB and XPS, by employing its robust rendering engine. This multifaceted capability is mirrored in its integration with other tools, such as the document viewer Sioyek, which selects MuPDF as its engine, emphasizing its effectiveness in displaying technical documents and e-books.
Utility in Development:
From a development standpoint, MuPDF is regarded positively for its open-source licensing under AGPL, with commercial options available. Its C library serves as a foundation for other projects, such as PyMuPDF, demonstrating flexibility and adaptation across programming environments. However, users do indicate that its API possesses a learning curve, potentially posing initial challenges for developers unfamiliar with its architecture.
Areas for Improvement:
While MuPDF's command-line interface is advantageous for some, it may deter users seeking a more intuitive approach. New users or those less comfortable with command-line operations could find this aspect restrictive. Additionally, while MuPDF's reliability in handling PDFs is unquestionable, concerns regarding its maintainability and updates arise in forums, indicating that while continual development is acknowledged, some users remain unaware or uncertain about the project's longevity and support.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, MuPDF remains a compelling choice in the domain of PDF readers and editors, appealing primarily to users who value speed, minimalism, and open-source flexibility. Despite certain challenges posed by the discontinuation of the MuPDF App Kit and its largely command-line-driven operation, its strengths in rapid file rendering and cross-format compatibility render it an enduring presence, particularly among experienced users and developers. As the demand for efficient PDF tools persists, MuPDF's straightforward yet powerful framework ensures its continued relevance and utility within the software community.
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